Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-10-08

| . hear"
"Yes, both Theo and are anxious to
know all about her.
| Folding her white hands on her lap,
with the delicate white lace falling about
them, Taute. with a smile, began slowly.
Il brought her up from baby. She was
pretty even then and most lovable. Her
mother WAS a seamstress Of mine. and
died leaving only this child She is ex-
ceedingly bright. Ask her whatever you
wish, and You will see she can do it
Then raising her eyes looked full in the
face softly outlined by the silvery hair.
Why she asked, does she seem so
terribly SD. in a deep melancholy should
call it,
''Sad' do You think she is sad I'm
afraid have been making myself believe
| | only imagined IT, For Harold didn't
seem to notice, and Harold is very observ-
ant"
The uneasiness in the hesitating voice
ceased
"Her health is perfect and she is SO
! proud that never for moment would she
think of negro on the place, although
they all worship her. There is Pierre,
/ the handsomest Of negroes, who loves her
devoutly, but she PIERCE
Tante laughed gayly.
!
During the weeks which now followed
there were balls and parties without num-
her given to Mrs. Graham's nieces. II
mattered not at what late hour the girls
returned home, always seated By, the
burning logs Of the open fireplace waiting
| for them either sewing or doing, was Ma
tella, brilliant picture but q setting Of
lurid gold. The time had come now
when the visit must end. 1t was the
night before their departure, when the
greatest event Of the year took place,
when the negroes ball WAS at hand.
Candles had been lighted and placed in
the wide drawing room in every conceiv-
able corner. BY the order Of Tanfe all the
female revelers were to come to that
room and show themselves. ITO amuse
you girls she said 10 them.
A dress Of pure white had been made
especially for the beauty Of them all Ma
tella was to be simply resplendent. Pau
line and Theo were TO see to the finishing
touches. At an early hour knocks fell on
the drawing room door, and the black
laughing faces peeped in to see il missus
and the young ladies were there. Such
giggling, high merriment. wild laughing.
and outbursts of singing made the
room shake its sides In sympathy.
and the very mirrors to reflect
from all corners the grimaces and
proud turnings. But they were all sent
out at last, and Natells summoned She
entered the room stately and soberly as
usual her regular features looking like
marble. The laughter died slowly from
Tante's lips. Her glasses were suddenly
in need of wiping. With trembling
fingers Pauline and Theo pinned here and
shook there the white dress on the motion
less figure.
Look at yourself, child ~ It was the
voice Of Tante sounding strangely severe.
Natella moved at once to the room and
stood still The large mirrors on all sides
flashed her back proud dazzling picture
She seemed TO be in every spot, to I'LL the
great room and crush the silent watchers
out. Jetty tumbling in broke the spell.
The carriage was at the door. Tante had
given them the family barouche. The
crunching Of the horses feet on the gravel,
the screaming and laughing OF the gather
ing jewellers were now plainly heard.
Tante rose and, leaning on her nieces.
went out to the veranda to see them of.
Seated on his high box Pierre, the coach
man, the finest negro Of them all, held the
prancing horses well in hand.
Git in, you chilens of Ham, git in"
he called in voice Of iron. They obeyed
at once Pierre gathered the reins to-
gether and raised his whip; turning then,
he scanned the dusky faces Nanny. the
black cook, watching him, called out i'm
patiently:
.-Sakes alive, honey, where's that gal
Natella,''
Harold had been leaning nonchalantly
eyeing the scene on a veranda pillar by the
side Of Pauline.
Without looking round, she spoke to
him as nanny called: Harold, will you
find Natella,'
.'She has not been here for some time"
II was her sisters voice, bushed and close
to her ear. But even as she spoke white
form rushed by them, was pulled into the
carriage. and the horses had dashed of
Theodore, Pauline. come in; We are
going to have a storm"
Tante stood in the doorway Theo went
up 10 her and drew her in Already the
wind was banging doors. The night was
of a pitchy darkness. Pauline, in her
dark dress, was not visible on the veranda
where she stood A strong blast of wind,
coming suddenly, buffeted against her.
Frightened, she turned to enter the house,
when. in one breathleSs second, she could
not move.
Leaning up against the pillar where he
had been before was Harold, with face
of fearful anguish. His head was barred
and fallen, with look of deep despair.
His eyes sought beyond the veranda, cut
ting the very blackness with their inten-
sity. and yet with a distant look about
them. His lips, tightly compressed, were
blancbed, as were likewise the cheeks, the
brow above them. The only hand she
saw hung stif!iy by his side, between the
fingers Of which was crushed a half
smoked cigar. She tried TO speak, to
walk, but could not, when, with a mighty
effort, she made her way to door near
by, sprang up the stcirs and sank eX-
hausted on the floor Of her room. She lay
there how long she knew not, trembling,
with that suffering face before her, when
she crept to bed Her sister coming II
later was surprised to find her sleeping.
Why had she deserted them this their
last night, when they had been SO jolly,
ana Harold had kept them laughing with
his songs,
Tneo smiled as she thought. When at
last she slept, Pauline opened wide her
eyes and stared at the darkness.
Harold, what was the matter with
him, What did il mean That dream,
how plainly she remembered it: the first
night there by the window" She shivered.
How cold she was. Theo' would she
wake Theo, She lay and thought. An
hour passed. She had slept and awak'
| cueC: il was bout midnight
She slept again aid, waking, found The
darkness half gone Her wrapper lay on
a chair close by. Under the blanket,
even. she was shivering; and it looked
warm. She rose and wrapped it about
| her. went TO the window and looked out.